"Since the application of Internet of things technology, the smart home industry is developing rapidly in full swing. It has developed from remote control to mobile phone remote control. The network transmission signal has also jumped from wired to wireless, which not only reduces the cost, but also saves energy. Among many wireless connection technologies, WiFi / BT / ZigBee is the most widely used and common. These three technologies have their own advantages and are applicable to different application scenarios. They have become the most popular communication protocol for wireless connection of the Internet of things.
Since 2013, products and solutions such as wireless single-chip MCU, modules integrating MCU and wireless functions, embedded processor and wireless single-core SOC have blossomed. Check the WiFi / BT / ZigBee wireless chips or modules specially designed for the Internet of things launched by mainstream chip manufacturers such as Ti, St, Marvell, Freescale, Broadcom, Qualcomm, MediaTek and NXP, and analyze their characteristics and application scenarios.
1、 Integrated wireless single chip MCU
1. Ti's latest simplelink WiFi platform is designed for IOT, providing flexible choices
Simplelink WiFi platform provides users with flexible choices: cc3200 integrates programmable arm? Cortex- M4mcu, allowing customers to add their unique code; The cc3100 has provided interfaces for 8, 16 and 32-bit MCU, which can be used with users' needs, and has cloud connection support capabilities through ti's IOT cloud ecosystem members.
In June 2014, Ti launched the simplelink WiFi series WiFi platform, which is specially designed for IOT, including cc3100 / 3200. The platform has a high degree of flexibility. Among them, 3200 integrates RF and analog functional circuits in a single chip, integrates the WiFi platform with armcortex-m4mcu, and realizes a low-power, single-chip WiFi solution; The cc3100 can be used with any MCU. Both chips have very low power consumption and provide low-power RF and advanced low-power modes, especially for the development of battery powered devices.
Both products allow users to use fast connection, cloud support, on-chip WiFi, Internet and robust security protocols to realize simple development for IOT. Without previous experience in developing connected products, users can easily add embedded WiFi and Internet functions to many household, industrial and consumer electronic products.
Application scenario: the platform can be applied not only to smart home, but also to industrial communication. For example, the wireless service channel can be used for industrial equipment to provide intelligence, convenience and services for non access devices without monitors; The existing WiFi network infrastructure can be used to realize the indoor asset tracking of battery powered equipment; It can also add WiFi function to the factory distribution board to control, monitor and analyze power consumption and settings, so as to realize intelligent energy control.
2. Marvell's wireless MCU platform from WiFi to Bluetooth to ZigBee
Marvell's wireless MCU platform covers WiFi, Bluetooth and ZigBee. It provides high integration, significantly improves performance, reduces power consumption and reduces the overall material cost. Combined with the software development platform marvellez connect, developers can realize application development in just a few days.
In June 2014, Marvell released a comprehensive wireless MCU platform for Internet of things applications: mw300wi fi microcontroller, mb300 Bluetooth microcontroller and mz100zigbee microcontroller. On the basis of integrating MCU, RF transceiver and network / wireless protocol stack on a single chip, it also integrates software development kit and debugging tools, and provides multi-layer security.
Among them, the mw300wi fi microcontroller supports 802.11nwi FI and a single-chip SOC with a built-in full-function microcontroller. It has been optimized for low power consumption to achieve a deep low power consumption state and reduce the power consumption during normal operation. It is suitable for various battery powered application scenarios; Mb300 Bluetooth microcontroller is a real single-chip SOC that supports dual-mode Bluetooth 4.1 and integrates microcontroller to realize the coexistence of classic Bluetooth and intelligent Bluetooth. The built-in voice function supports high-resolution ADC and direct connection with microphone; Mz100zigbee microcontroller is a single-chip SOC supporting 802.15.4/zigbee and integrating microcontroller. It provides the coexistence of Wi Fi and Bluetooth, is easy to connect with sensors, starters and other components, and reduces the area of external components and PCB. Marvellez connect software platform supports this latest wireless product family, which greatly reduces development time.
Application scenarios: wearable devices, home automation, home security, personal health care, smart appliances, accessories and remote controls, automobiles, lighting, industrial Internet and other markets. The three chips are applicable to different application scenarios: the mw300wi fi microcontroller is mainly applicable to refrigerators, air conditioners and other household appliances in smart home and the long-term connection between household appliances and home network; Mb300 Bluetooth microcontroller is suitable for "interaction" between devices; Mz100zigbee microcontroller has obvious advantages in intelligent lighting and multi terminal interconnection.
Wireless development board recommendations:
MSP430 wireless development kit A complete set of solar energy collection development tools for wireless sensor networks permanently powered by low-power MSP430 microprocessor.
Bcm943362wcd4 WiFi evaluation board An evaluation tool for creating secure embedded wireless network applications for Microcontrollers of existing products.
PurePath Wireless development kit A cc8520 that allows users to fully evaluate PUREPATH wireless technology and wireless audio applications.
2、 Module integrating MCU and wireless function
1. The microchip rn4020 Bluetooth intelligent module can be connected to the host MCU or run independently
It supports the latest Bluetooth 4.1 and has the characteristics of low power consumption, long transmission distance and compact size. It can be connected to any single chip microcomputer with UART interface (including hundreds of pic? MCU), or it can operate independently without MCU.
In September 2012, shortly after purchasing roving networks, microchip quickly launched WiFi wireless modules rn-171 and rn-131, which can connect to any PIC MCU. In 2013, it successively released mrf24wg0ma / MB WiFi module, integrated wireless module and PIC MCU, supporting Wi Fi sensor network with low data rate, home automation, building automation and consumer electronics applications.
In June 2014, microchip Bluetooth 4.1 low power module rn4020 was released, providing a built-in PCB antenna with transmission power of 7 DBM and reception sensitivity of - 92.5 DBM, so that the effective working distance of the module exceeds 100 meters, but the size is very compact, only 11.5 × nineteen point five × 2.5mm。 Rn4020 is an on-board protocol stack module, which can be connected to any single chip microcomputer with UART interface (including hundreds of pic? MCU), or it can operate independently without MCU for basic data acquisition and communication, such as light beacon or sensor. The stand-alone operation mode is implemented based on microchip's unique non compiled script. It uses a simple ASCII command interface to configure the module without tools or compilation.
Application scenario: suitable for home automation and household appliances, lighting applications, medical equipment, wearable devices, toys, labels, watch chains and remote control devices, pulse and proximity sensor based systems, and even various industrial applications.
2. ATMEL smartconnect Sam w23 module integrates wireless and control advantages
Integrating WiFi connection, network protocol, security and other functions, as well as ATMEL's arm cortex M0 + microcontroller technology, Sam w23 platform can be used as an independent system or as a function expansion scheme, so as to realize WiFi connection in the current design.
In view of the strong offensive of the Internet of things market, ATMEL is integrating its strong advantages in wireless and control. In June 2014, ATMEL launched a new MCU brand - ATMEL smart and smartconnect Sam w23 module, which is based on ATMEL ultra-low power WiFi system chip to realize the combination of low-power MCU and Wi Fi solution. Sam w23 module integrates WiFi functions, so designers no longer need to learn WiFi stack, so they can focus on improving product functions.
Sam w23 module is an ideal solution for designers seeking to integrate WiFi connection with IEEE802.11, RTOS, IP stack or RF. In addition, the module can provide application and security protocols (such as TLS), integrated network services (TCP / IP stack) and standard real-time operating system (RTOS), All these can be realized through simple serial host interfaces (SPI, UART) on the integrated development platform (IDP) of ATMEL Studio 6.
Application scenario: applicable to a wide range of residential, medical, industrial, consumer, intelligent energy and wearable device markets.
3. Freescale kinetis W series wireless module has advantages in ZigBee field
Kinetis kw2x wireless module reduces power consumption, integrates advanced security features only provided in high-end processors, supports advanced encryption methods, such as key generation, secure memory and tamper detection functions, and provides 512KB flash memory, 64KB ram and 64K flexmemory, which is convenient for users to use flexibly. Combined with kinetis development tools, it can further speed up product development.
MCU is the strategic focus of Freescale. In the era of Internet of things, Freescale has also played the abacus of Internet of things. By integrating MCU, ZigBee wireless technology and RF transceiver, Freescale has launched a series of integrated MCU kinetis W series, which can provide flexible product choices for 2.4GHz zigbe / IEEE 802.15.4 applications and IEEE 802.15.4 lower than 1GHz.
At the end of 2013, Freescale launched kinetis series kw2x wireless MCU. Kw2x is a low-power, compact integrated device. It is composed of a high-performance 2.4 GHz wireless transceiver compatible with IEEE 802.15.4 and a powerful arm cortex-m4 MCU system. It is equipped with data connection and high-precision mixed signal analog peripherals.
Application scenario: kw2x wireless MCU is mainly used in intelligent energy, home / building automation, medical care, home entertainment and other scenarios. Typical applications include: home network composed of instrument, gateway, home display and interconnection equipment; Networked building control and home automation applications with lighting control, HVAC and security functions.
Wireless development board recommendations:
MSP430 wireless development kit A complete set of solar energy collection development tools for wireless sensor networks permanently powered by low-power MSP430 microprocessor.
Bcm943362wcd4 WiFi evaluation board An evaluation tool for creating secure embedded wireless network applications for Microcontrollers of existing products.
PurePath Wireless development kit A cc8520 that allows users to fully evaluate PUREPATH wireless technology and wireless audio applications.
4. NXP jn516x wireless MCU module refers to smart home
For intelligent lighting, residential automation and energy management applications, the jn516x wireless MCU module series brings together the best combination of price / performance, on-chip memory, ultra-low power consumption and software stack selection. In particular, NXP also launched the lightpro intelligent lighting system module, which allows the construction of an intelligent lighting network with up to 500 nodes, perfectly covering commercial and public lighting applications.
Since 2011, NXP has taken intelligent lighting as a breakthrough to attack the Internet of things. At first, it did not integrate wireless functions in its LPC Series MCU. In early 2013, NXP launched jn516x series wireless MCU modules for the Internet of things, including jn5161, jn5164 or jn5168, integrating wireless functions.
The module is equipped with high-performance 32-bit RISC processor, embedded flash and E2PROM, and improves code efficiency through variable width instructions, multi-level instruction pipeline, low power consumption and programmable clock speed. At the same time, the chip also has a wireless transceiver conforming to IEEE802.15.4 2.4GHz standard and a series of rich analog and digital peripherals. With ultra-low working current and low-power sleep characteristics, the device can use button battery to power and prolong the service life of the battery.
Application scenario: with NXP's application business development and evaluation suite, developers can develop applications in intelligent lighting, asset management, building control, intelligent energy, home automation, remote control and other fields. Based on jn516x, the industry has developed many successful commercial products, such as cherry's radio energy acquisition switch. Without battery or power supply connection, the energy of 8 wireless data packets can be sent by pressing the switch once, so as to realize the function of bulb lamp switching and even dimming.
5. St STMicroelectronics spwf series micro intelligent WiFi module has low power consumption and small size
Spwf series micro intelligent WiFi module has low power consumption and small size, which can be easily integrated with Internet of things (IOT) devices and independent 802.11 B / g / N devices.
Aiming at the business opportunities of the Internet of things, St STMicroelectronics not only provides a variety of STM32 MCU of arm Cortex-M processor series with low power consumption and low cost, but also integrates WiFi technology and introduces the micro intelligent WiFi module of spwf series. Pwf01s WiFi module is configured as a single-chip 802.11 transceiver, with integrated PA and STM32 arm Cortex-M3 32-bit MCU, which can provide 1.5MB and 512KB flash memory selection and 64 kb ram, support a wide range of GPIO, and also include clock and voltage regulator, which can be easily plug and play integrated with Internet of things (IOT) devices and independent 802.11 B / g / N devices.
In addition, St STMicroelectronics has added a product line, launched a large-scale integration of 32-bit Cortex-M core MCU, 2.4GHz RF transceiver and Bluetooth technology, and plans to support the next generation multi communication protocol (multi)
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